A combine tell-all

Tuesday, February 24, 2009 -- Anonymous (not verified)

Workouts prompt stories

Sections:

New England Patriots

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Author(s):

Karen Guregian

INDIANAPOLIS - During the past five days at the NFL scouting combine, the most talked about and analyzed storylines dealt with the disappearing act of top offensive tackle Andre Smith, along with the stress fracture discovered in the foot of top wideout prospect Michael Crabtree.

While Alabama’s Smith can now kiss his top five draft pick money goodbye, Texas Tech’s Crabtree is trying to hold on to his loot by running at his Pro Day prior to undergoing corrective surgery.

Locally, Boston College’s B.J. Raji’s tried to convince the masses that his play, not his combine scores, was the truest measure of his value, while the gut-wrenching story of Northeastern’s Brian Mandeville, in the process of living out his dream before he was told to quit football after medical tests revealed a heart abnormality, brought a sad dose of reality to the proceedings.

While the media don’t get to view the actual workouts live, save for a few limited instances, they do converse with many of the players and get a bit of a feel for them. Here are a few observations that stoodout from the gallery.

Cornerback with the most swagger - Wake Forest’s Alphonso Smith gets the award, with Utah’s Sean Smith a close second. Alphonso’s definitely got the stats, and at the combine, had the supporters to back it up. His size (5-foot-9, 193 pounds) isn’t ideal, but there’s no questioning his playmaking skills and ability given his eight interceptions this season.

He certainly talks a good game.

“They’re going to get a player that’s extremely smart, understands the game, works extremely hard and they get a natural winner,” he said. “All my life, I’ve been a winner. All my life, I’ve had this attitude where I don’t care who you are, where you’ve been, who your father is, who you play for, I don’t care. It’s me vs. you, and I’m going to try and come out on top. That goes for everyone.”

One other side note on Wake’s Mr. Smith, who has been compared with former Patriots corner Asante Samuel, given his ball-hawking skills. He explained the reason he’s picked off so many passes and has so many passes defensed (61) was because he used to play quarterback in high school just like Samuel.

Most Patriot-like players - If we’ve learned anything about Bill Belichick and the players he tends to bring in, chances are they can perform more than one role and switch positions on cue. With that in mind, let’s toss out some names who have that prototype, and sounded like they already were a part of the Patriot Way.

Rice tight end James Casey is not only versatile, having played seven positions in one game, but he’s also a multiple-sport athlete, much like Tom Brady, Randy Moss and Matt Cassel were before settling into football. Casey was in the Chicago White Sox organization, a pitcher who threw in the mid-90s, before control problems made him switch to football.

University of Cincinnati tight end-turned-defensive end Connor Barwin, meanwhile, has drawn comparisons to the Pats’ Mike Vrabel. He was certainly a confident kid, who not only can rush the passer off the edge on defense and play tight end in the red zone, but he’s a special teams ace. He also played two seasons with the Bearcats hoop team.

“I think I’m one of the best athletes in the draft,” he bragged. “I think right away, no matter what, I’m going to contribute on special teams. I already played them throughout my career.”

Another in the mold is California center Alex Mack, who, like Stephen Neal, has a wrestling background.

The Belichick influence - It’s no secret when you play for Florida’s Urban Meyer, Alabama’s Nick Saban or Fresno State’s Pat Hill, coaches either having experience under Belichick (Saban, Hill) or sharing a professional bond with Belichick (Meyer), the name of the Pats coach is often brought up.

Players from all of those schools liberally used Belichick’s name. Fresno State quarterback Tom Brandstater got the ball rolling, talking about the stories Hill constantly tells about the Pats coach.

“Coach Meyer tries to imitate him to a tee,” Harvin said. “A lot of things we did were coach Meyer imitating him. He (Belichick) came down and talked to us a couple times. He was a real inspiration to our team.”

So much so, some players are lining up to be Patriots. Florida tight end Cornelius Ingram came right out and lobbied for a spot.

“I know the Patriots like Florida athletes,” Ingram said, “so hopefully, it will work out.”

Cassel interest dwindling - The combine was a good place to gauge the market for quarterback Matt Cassel, who currently is taking up $14.65 million in cap space with the franchise tag.

At the start, it appeared at least a half-dozen or more teams (Detroit, Kansas City, Minnesota, Tampa Bay, San Francisco, Chicago, New York Jets) could be in the hunt for Cassel, who did sign his tender, according to multiple reports.

Listening to some of the personnel from those teams, the number has shrunk. Bears coach Lovie Smith claimed he was a Kyle Orton man.

“I am a big Kyle Orton fan,” he said of his starting QB. “I like him leading our football team. He’ll be doing that this season.”

That could be a tall tale.

The Vikings reportedly appear near a deal to acquire quarterback Sage Rosenfels from the Texans.

Jets coach Rex Ryan - not that Belichick is likely to do business with Gang Green - swore he was going with one of his younger quarterbacks (Kellen Clemens, Brett Ratliff, Erik Ainge).

The would leave the 49ers, who don’t have much in the way of draft picks; the Lions, who have three picks among the top 33; the Bucs and the Chiefs. The Redskins might also be in the mix.

Best line of the combine - Eyebrows were raised in front of Maryland wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey when he offered the following thoughts before his 40-yard dash.

“I just want to run something comfortable, nothing too crazy,” he said. “I don’t want to strain myself out there. Just do something nice and comfortable.”

Not strain himself?

All he did was run a 4.3, best time of all the wide receivers. Can’t wait to see him go all out.